Steam trap



Dec.- 29, 1925- 1,567,481

l.. s. wooDHULI.

STEAM TRAP u Filed Nov. 26, 1923v 2 SheetS-Sheet 1 ffl IHI l Il lll I l"Hl l 'lmnp Dec. 29 1925 1,567,481 L. S. WOODHU LL STEAM TRAP Filed Nov.26, 1923 @Wm "au Unirse STATES LLEWELLYN S. UOODHULL, OF DETROIT,MICHIGAN.

STEAM TRAP.

Application filed November 26, 1923.

To all wiz-m t may conc-cra.' i

vBe it known that I, LLEWELLYN S. l/Voon- HULL, a citizen ot the UnitedStates, residing at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and State otMichigan, have invented a new and 'useful Steam Trap, ot which thefollowing is as speciiication.

This invention relates to steam tra-ps, and 'relates more particularlyto steam traps adapted to continuously vdeliver water of condensationfrom a steam line into a boiler onother container.

It is an object of the invention to provide a steam trap using notilting chambers, no float valves, and no rotary valves.

Tilting chamber traps are usually more expensive to make than those inwhich a stationary chamber is used and the wear incident to thetilting'movement is objectionable. Float controlled valves aie likely to`et out of order. Rotary valves are more likely to leak than those ot apiston type. particularly whenv controlling the flow of steam.

A. further object of the invention is to control the valves of a steamtrap by the pressure of water flowing to the trap.

Another object is to provide a. double 'chamber type of steam trapcontrolling` the delivery and discharge both of water and steam to andfrom the chambers of the trap by a ser-ies ot piston valves actuated incommon'and disposed within a common cylinder.

In attaining this object the invention contemplates providing a steamtrap having adjacent chambers into one of which water of condensationfrom the pipe (or system of pipes) controlled by the trap is beingdelivered while steam under pressure is ad` iiiitted to the otherchamber to torce previously admitted water ot condensation there- 'fromto any desired point ot'deliveiy, as for example into the boilerdelivering steam to 'the system contioll ed by the trap, piston valvesbeingarranged to reciprocate as a unit to control the steani and waterpassages to said chambers, and a water wheel (or its equivalent) beingactuated by the water flowing to said chambers and eiiectnigV a gradualtravel ot a valve which in limiting positions reverses the applicationet pressure to the unitary piston valves -which are then shifted toreverse the water and steamV passages to the two1 chambers,-alll t0further reverse the Serial No. 676,316.

`is hereinafter described and illustrated in the accon'ipanyingdrawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a view in sectional ele ration of the improved steam trap.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,showingprimarily the common automatic control means for the water and steampassages.

Fig. 3is a vertical section on line 3 3 ot Fig. 2, showing a wheeldriven by the water flowing to the chambers of the trap and areciprocatory steam valve controlled by said wheel.

Fig. i is a bottom plan view of the invention.

In these views the reference character 1 designates a horizontalcylindrical tank, in which chambers 2 and 3 are formed by a centralpartition 4t. 5 is a piston valve cylinder extending longitudinally ofthe tank 1, theiebeneath, and suitably secured to the tank, as forexample by bolts 6 engaging a mounting plate 7 upon the bottom of thetank. In the cylinder 5, piston valves 8, 9, 10, 1 1 and 12 areconnected by a rod 13 for reciprocation in unison. For actuating saidvalves, a piston 14: is secured to one end ot' the rod 13, said pistonworking within a steam pressure cylinder 15 secured to one end of thecylinder 5, the rod 13 passing through a` packed slide bearing 16between the cylinders and 15. 17 and 1S are ports opening from thechambers 2 and 3, adjacent the partition 4, into the cylinder 5, and 19and 19 designate two adjacent ports opening Afrom said cylinder betweenthe ports 17 and 18, and both communicating with a pipe 20. The valvesand 11 control the ports 19 and 1 9. Thus in the position ot saidpistons illustrated in Fig. 1, the port 19 is closed by the piston 1']while between said pistons there is formed a water discharge passagefrom the port 17 to the port 1.9. W'lien the pistons are shifted totheir other limiting position, the port 19 will be closed by the piston10vand water may iiow between said pistons 'from the port 18 to the port19. 21 and 22 designate two ports in the cylinder 5 also controlled bythe valves 1() and 11, and located at opposite sides of the ports 417and-1.8, The ports and V2 2 lon communicat-e with water pipes 23 and 24which lead from tangential outlets 25 of the casing 26 of a water-wheel27. Opposed to said outlets are inlets 28 in said casing with whichconnect water pipes 29 and 30, leading respectively to ports 31 and 32in the cylinder 5. The valve 8 reciprocates between positionsrespectively closing said ports 31 and 32, and thus controlscommunication with said ports of an intermediate port 33, to which awater supply pipe 34 leads.

The shaft 35 of' the water-wheel 27 carries a worm 36, driving aworm-wheel 37, fast upon a shaft`38 havingy a screw-threaded portionforming a feed-screw for a nut 39. As is best seenin Fig. 3, said nut isan actuating element `for a tubular slide valve 40, the stem 41 of saidvalve having a collar 42 fast thereupon, and springs 43 being coiledbetween said collar and a pair of arms 44 projecting integrally from`the extremities of said nut. Said springs provide for a lostmotiontravel of'isaid nut relative to the stem 41 for a purpose hereinafterset forth. The valve works within a casing 45 having the steam inlet 46land having two vsteam outlet ports 47 and 47 alternately opened andyclosed bythe valve 40, according as the latter in one or the other ofits limiting positions.' Two pipes 48,'are connected with the ports 47and 47 an'dulea'd to opposite ends of the pressure cylinder 15,. Thecentral portion of the tubular valve 40 is annularlychanneled, asindicated at 49, forming ja"stearn passage which in all positions ofsaid" valve communicates with an exhaust port 50, which, asis shown inFig. 2, may open to the atmosphere. vT ust prior to uncovering eithervport or'47 .the valve 40 placesthe other of said ports in communicationwithtlie exhaust port 5;'0 through the annular passage 49.

Hthin each chamber 2 and 3, a steam pipe 51l rises, opening above themaximum water level iny said chambers. ySaidpfipes, at their lower ends,communicate with the cylinder 5, and a steam inlet port 5 2 and1 exhaustport 53 are lformed in said cylinder at opposite sidesofeach pipe51..isa vliv-e steam supply pipe leading to the two ports 52, and 55 is anexhaust steani pipe having branches 56 leading from the two.' portsThepiston 9 controls the ports 52 and53 for 'delivery and exhaust ofsteam to and from the chamber 2, and the piston 12 Vcontrols the ports52 and 53 through which steainpasse's to andfroni thez chamber 3f f i IConsidering now theoperation ,of the describedinvention, it is -to beiinde'rsto'od that the lslet of valves W8, 3, 10 11 1and v12 are shiftedto one) or the other ottheirliiniting positions, .according 'as 'steamisadmitted to the cylinder 15 threuglr one' onthe'iotlier of 4B:`lnlthfe'psition cf said valves. shown'lii 'Fig-"1', the port 4"'17C'iiil'luilioate's' through the cylinder 5 with the pipe 20, thusproviding for a discharge of water from the chamber 2 into said pipe.The steam inlet port 52 below the chamber 2 is uncovered as is likewisethe steam exhaust port 53 below the chamber 3. Consequently live steamis being delivered from the pipe 54 by way of the port 52 and pipe 51into the chamber 2 to displace the water therefrom. The water inlet port21 is covered by the valve 10, while the valve -12 is clear of its port22. Consequently water is flowing into the chamber 3 from the pipe 24 byway of the ports 22 and 13. Steam in the chamber 3 is being displaced bythe inflowing water and discharges by way of the pipe 51 and port 53below said chamber into the exhaust steam pipe 55. The piston 8 coversthe port 31 and uncovers the port 32. The water oi condensation,therefore, which the pipe 34 delivers, flows by way of the ports 33 and32,' and the pipe 30` to the casing 26, actuating the water wheel 27 inthe directionoit the arrow in Fig. 1, and flowing 'from said casingthrough the pipe 24 to theV `chamber 3. The worm 36, worm-wheel 37 andscrew 38 form a speed reduction 'n'ieclianisinactuated by saidwater-wheel and effecting gradual travel of the nut 39 te the right.(Fig. The speed ratio between the rotation of the water-wheel and theresulting travel of the nut 39 is such that when sufficient water hasflowed past said wheel to establish a predetermined level linthe chamber2 or 3 receiving such flow, as for ef;- aniple the level shown in Fig.1, the rotative travel of the water-wheel produced by said How will haveactuated the nut 39 and master valve 40 between thelimits of theirtravel. The ports 47 and 47 are respectively uncovered by the valve 40in its respective limiting positions. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the nut39y has j ust completed its travel away from valve casing 45, and hasestablished vthe disclosed limiting position of the valve 40, uncoveringthe port 47.

Steam is therefore flowing through the casing 45 from the inlet pipe 46tosaid port,

.and thence through the corresponding pipe gtoy the limitof its traveltoward the casing 45, this limit being established upon arrival of 'thevalve 40 at the opposite limit to shown Iiii'iFig'.' f3. In arrii'fi-n'gat Said limit i the valve Will unco\'er the port L17 and steam will beadmitted to the left-hand end of the cylinder l5 (Fig. l), whereupon thevalves S, 9., lO, ll and 19 will beactuated to their opposite limit to`that shown in Fig. l.. This will permit the chamber 2 to lill withwater while the chamber 3 empties. will admit steam to the latterchamberwhile providing for exhaust of steam from the former, and willreverse the direction of rotation of the Water-wheel 27 and of travel ofthe nut 39 and valve 40. By repetition oi the described cycle, acontinuous flow of water through the pipe under live steam pressure ismaintained. By location of the described trap a short distance above thenormal water level in the boiler supplying the steam system (not shown)which is drained by the pipe 3a it is made possible to discharge thewater from the pipe 2O back to. said boiler.

The springs 43 permit the valve 40 to remain stationary during aconsiderable portion ot the travel of the nut 39 in either direction,one or oder of. said springs being compressed during such travel. Whenthis compression becomes suhcient to overcome lirictional resistanceVoffered by the valve 40, the sudden expansion of the spring acts toeffect a quick travel oi the valveto its other limiting position.Furthermore, said springs permit the water-wheel 27 to acquire a slightmomentum, subsequent to reversal of its travel,V before being placedunder load of its work.

Just before the valve l() uncovers either port 47 or 4'", the other ofsaid ports establishes communication with the annular passage i9 andthrough the latter with the ei;- haust port 50, and this communicationis maintained during the open period of the first-mentioned port. Thus,it is assured that the exhaust steam may discharge from one end ot thecylinder 15 while being admitted tothe other end thereof.

The described steam trap avoids objectionable tilting parts and alsoavoids rotary valves and the diihculties encountered in keeping the sameproperly packed. The automatic control mechanism is furthermore one thatwill not readily get out of order.

lVhat l claim is:

l. A steam trap comprising a chamber, means for delivering water otcondensation to and for withdrawing it from said chainber, means fordelivering steam to and for .vithdrawing it 'from said chamber, a pistonvalve directly controlling the water delivery and Withdrawal, a pistonvalve directly controllingr the steam delivery and withdrawal, a commoncylindrical casing in which said valves are mounted., means connectingsaid valves for reciprocation in unison, and means exterior to saidchamber controlling the travel oit' said valves. l

2. A steam trap comprising a chamber,

means for delivering water of condensation to and for withdrawing itYfrom said chamber, means Ylor delivering steam to and for withdrawingit from said chamber, valves controlling the steam and Water deliveryand withdrawal, means lfor applying steam pres sure to etlect travel ofsaid valves, a valve controlling steam delivery to the last-named means,and automatic control means iter said valve, exterior to said chamber.

3. A steam trap comprising a chamber, connections for the delivery andwithdrawal ot water to and from said chamber, means for delivering steamto and withdrawing it from said chamber, and a control element for thesteam and water connections to said chamber arranged in one of saidwater connections and aetuable by the flow of water therethrough.

4. A steam trap comprising a chamber, connections for delivering waterof condensation to and withdrawing it from said chamber, connections fordelivering steam to and withdrawing it from said chamber, valvescontrolling said connections, means for applying fluid pressure toactuate said valves, a master valve controlling the delivery ot :fluidto the lastnamed means, a water-wheel aetuable by the flow in one olsaid water connections, and speed reduction mechanism driven by saidWater-wheel and actuating said master valve.

A steam trap comprising adjacent chambers, means for alternatelydelivering water to said chambers, means For delivering steam to eachchamber in alternation with the delivery ot water thereto for expellingthe water, fluid aetuable control means for the water and steam, a valvecontrolling the application of fluid pressure to said control means, andautomatic control means for said valve, exterior to said chambers.

6. In a steam trap, a control valve, a hy draulically aetuable element,a speed reduction mechanism establishing an actuating connection fromsaid element to said valve, a chamber for the accumulation of waterpreliminary to its delivery to a boiler, and means for delivering vater,rst to said hyd aulically aetuable clement to drive the same, andsubsequently to said chamber.

'l'. A steam trap comprising adjacent chambers, means for alternatelydelivering water to said chambers, a control element exterior to saidchambers and movable under pressure ol the water flowing to saidchambers and valves under control ot said element, exercising control ofthe alternating flow to said chambers, and reversing the effectiveapplication ot pressure to said element upon each alternation of flow tosaid chambers.

8. A steam trap comprising adjacent chambers, means `for alternatelydelivering water to said chambers, piston valves conlil) trolling suchdelivery, means for applying tluid'to ,ac'tuate said valves, a mastervalve controlling the application'of such liiid, a member movable underpressure of the water flowing to said chambers, Aand speed reductionmechanism actuating said master valve from said niemben A 9. A steamtrap comprising adjacent chambers, pipes tor delivering wateralternatelyto said chambers and for withdrawing it therefrom, a casing connectedwith the water delivery pipesof both chambers, a water-wheel in saidcasing adapted'tfo be driven in opposite directions according as wateris deliveredthrough one or the other or said pipes, valves ,controllingthe `water flow to and from said chambers, vactuating means for saidvalves, speed reduction mechanism driven by said water-Wheel, and anelement movable through said mechanism controlling Vactuation of saidvalves. j u n A steam trap comprising adjacent chambers, pipes for,delivering water alternately to said chambers and for withdrawing ittherefrom, a casing connected with the water delivery pipes'of `bothchamber s,a water wheel in said,casing adapted to be driven oppositeldirections according as water is delivered throughoneor the otherofsaid delivery pipes, valves controlling the water flow to and fromsaidchainbers,actuating means Jfor said valves, a control member forsaid means, speed' reduction mechanism driven by the water-wheel, band`means effecting a quick shifting of said control membei1 in certainlimiting positions of the reduction mechanism.

11. A steam, trap comprising adjacent chambers, pipes -for deliveringwater alternately to said chambers and for withdrawing it therefrom,pipes for vdelivering steam to said chambers to expel the watertherefrom, and for withdrawing thesteam, a set of valves recip'rocatoryas a unit controlling the water and` steam supply to and discharge fromsaid chamber, means for applying fluid pressure to reciprocate saidvalves, and

means forperiodically automatically reversing the application"ofy-such'pressure. j

12. A steam trap comprising achamber,v a water supply connection leadingto said chamber, ahwater discharge connection leading from saidchamber,.asteam ysupply cionnection leading to said chamber, a steamdischarge connection leading from said chamber, the junctures of saidconnections with said chamber being adjacent and means for controllingsaid connections in common located exteriorly of said chamber andsubstantially at the juncture of said connections with said chamber.

j 13. A steam trap comprising a chamber, means for delivering water toand withdrawing itiirpm said chamber, means for deliveringsteam to andwithdrawing it from said chamber, means for applying steam to controlthe water'andsteam connectionswto said chamberwin common, and vhydraulicmeans arranged eXteriorly to said chamber controlling such applicati-onof steam.

14,. In a steam trap,ay control valve, 'a rotor, a speed reductionmechanism establishing an actuating connection' from said rotor to saidvalve, a chamber for the accumulation of water, preliminary to itsdelivery to a boiler, and means for delivering water first to said rotorto f drive the same, and subsequentlyto said chamber. t

15. A steam trapcomprising a chamber, connections for the delivery andwithdrawal ofjwater to and from 'said chamber, means for deliveringsteam to and withdrawing it fromgsaid chamber, valves controlling saidwater and steam connections, means for applying iiuid to actuate saidvalves in common, a ymaster valve controlling the application ofsuchfluid, an actuating element for the master valve, and control meansfor said actuating element connected to said steam and water controlvalves for actuation incommon therewith.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.rlvw f l LLEVVELLYN S.VVOODHULL.

